An in-depth look at the Oilers' 3-2 loss against the Predators

This was the third and final meeting between both teams this year and the Predators were able to skate away as the series winner, defeating the Oilers, 3-2. Sergei Kostitsyn redeemed himself after the their last meeting, which led to Sam Gagner's shorthanded goal on Mar. 17, with a tying goal in the first period. Two more goals were scored by Kevin Klein and Chris Mueller to extend the Predators' lead in the second period, but it was cut in half by Shawn Horcoff's goal late in the third period. Eric Belanger who recently came back from a groin injury, played 5:49 before he reinjured his groin forcing him to leave the game early in the second period.

Mike Fisher was able to get the puck loose from the boards to make a cross ice pass to Sergei Kostitsyn to beat Devan Dubnyk on the short side to tie up the game. Kostitsyn's goal is his third of the season and his first since Feb. 18. Assisting on the goal was Fisher, who extended his point streak to eight while Martin Erat extended his point streak to six.

25

Points for Ales Hemsky in 28 career games against Nashville

5

Goals in 14 games for Shawn Horcoff after coming back from an injury

26

Shots each for both teams throughout 60 minutes

315

Assists for Ales Hemsky who is four assists shy of tying teammate Ryan Smyth with 319 All-time Oilers assists

Martin Erat

G

A

PTS

PIM

+/-

0

2

2

0

+1

Sergei Kostitsyn

G

A

PTS

PIM

+/-

1

1

2

0

+1

Ales Hemsky

G

A

PTS

PIM

+/-

0

1

1

0

E

PREDATORS
Pekka Rinne

SA

SV

GA

TOI

SV%

24

26

2

60:00

0.923

OILERS
Devan Dubnyk

SA

SV

GA

TOI

SV%

23

26

3

58:55

0.885

PREDATORS
Shea Weber - D

27:43 - 0 PTS, E rating

OILERS
Jeff Petry - D

23:15 - 0 PTS, -1 rating

Chris Mueller and Brandon Yip was rushing into the Oilers zone with some give and go action. Yip passed the puck to Mueller who was able to skate by two Oilers defenders and roof it past Devan Dubnyk's right shoulder to extend the Predators' lead, 3-1. Mueller's goal was his second of the season and since his call up on Mar. 13, his third point in five games.

Martin Erat had two assists tonight as he extended his point streak to seven in just three games, tallying one goal and six assists. Erat had 19:30 of ice time with two shots on net and a +1 rating.

Nick Schultz recorded one assist, one hit with four blocked shots and 18:16 of ice time in the Oilers' loss.

Corey Potter was back in the lineup tonight after being a healthy scratch for the last three games to record his first goal of the season. Potter's goal was his first shot on net, which beat Pekka Rinne 11 seconds into the Oilers' first powerplay.

"It's just not enough. Twenty minutes against good teams is just not enough."

- Shawn Horcoff on the Oilers' 3-2 loss

Tuesday, March 26 at St. Louis
6:00pm MT
(SNET - EDM / 630 CHED)

The Oilers will be flying straight to St. Louis to face the Blues Tuesday night as they play their fifth back-to-back game this year. It will be their second meeting in four days as the Oilers were shutout on Mar. 23 against the Blues. The team will fly back Wednesday and begin preparing for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.